End closure structure for truck bodies



Aug. 25, 1931. s. E. TRAVIS, JR

END CLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK BODIES Original Filed Jan. 26. 1928INVENTOR.

A TORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITEDVSTATES PATENT oFFIcr.

SIMEON E. TRAVIS, JR; OF HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR TO THEWELDMECH STEEL PRODUCTS 00., A CORPORATION OF MISSISSIPPI END CLOSURESTRUCTURE FOR TRUCK BODIES Original application filed January 26, 1928Serial No. 249,693. Divided and this application filed March 5,

' 1929. Serial No. 344,531.

This invention relates to a truck body of that type designed primarilyfor the handling of crated, casedor boxed bottled goods, is a divisionof my application filed January 26, 1928, Serial No. 249,693, and theinvention has for its'object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a truck body having one or more closed end decks and furtherwith; the truck bodyso constructed and arranged that it can be easilyloaded and unloaded and carry its load to the best advantages under all7 road conditions.

A further object of the invention resides in a new and novelconstruction of braced closure structure for each'of the ends of thetruck body, and with each closure structure common to corresponding endsof the decks provided by the truck body.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a truck body designed to be attached to any formof chassis and which is simple in its construction and arrangement,strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient when used,

readily installed with respect to the chassis,

of minimum weightand comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With. the foregoing and other, objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement ofparts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated, in theaccompanying drawings,,wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope ofthe claims hereuntoappended.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like referencecharactersdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views: 1

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the truck body inaccordance with this invention. l

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the truck body.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of thelower cornersof the truck body.

The truck body is illustrated formed of an upper deck 1, an intermediatedeck 2 and v set forth in my application aforesaid, however, referencewill be made to the elements of each of the decks which coact with thesubject matter of this application, which is the braced closurestructure for'the ends of the truck body.

The upper deck 1 includes a pair of oppositely disposed, inverted,angle-shaped rails 16 secured to the bottom of deck 1 at the endsthereof, a pair of oppositely disposed, invertedangle-shaped retainingmemhers 17, each secured to and arranged within a rail member 16 andhaving its vertical leg opposing and spaced from thevertical leg of suchrail to form what may be termed a pocket. I

The intermediate deck includes a pair of oppositely disposed,angle-shaped rails 8, 9 positioned at the ends thereof. The lower deckincludes a pair of (ngle-shaped rails 12, 13 positioned at the endsthereof and each having an inverted channel iron 44; mounted on thelongitudinal leg and spaced from the vertical leg thereof.

The truck body includes four vertically disposed, angle-shaped cornerrails which are common to the decks 1, 2 and 3.

' For the forward end of the truck body a closure platela is providedwhich is common to the decks 2, 3. The bottom of plate 14 is seated onthe horizontal leg of rail 12, and positioned between the vertical legof such rail and channel iron 44. The plate 14 is positioned against theouter face of the vertical leg of rail 8 and has its upper end extendedinto the pocket formed between the front rail 16 and front retainingmember 17. The plate 14: extends from one forward corner rail to theother forward corner rail and is confined within such corner rails 18.Positioned within the forward corner rails 18 and between the decks 2and 3 are retaining members 23 which abut the plate 14'. Positionedwithin the forward corner rails 18 and arranged between the decks 1 and2 are retaining members 26 which abut the plate 14.

. the plate 15" is seated on the end rail 13,.

Arranged at the rear ends of the decks 2 and 3 is a closure plate 15which is set up in the same manner with respect to the rear end railsand the forward corner ra1ls 18,

as the plate 14 is set up with respect to the forward end and cornerrails, that is to say,

abuts against vertical leg of the endrail 9, extends into thepocketformed by the rear rail 16 and rear retaining member 17 and isarranged within the pairof rear corner rails.

' The braced end closure structure for the forward end of the truck bodyis constructed in the same mann'er as the braced end closure structurefor the rear end of the truck body. Theclosure structures being commonto the intermediate and lower decks,

, The bracing portion of each end closure which also may be termed atruss reinforcement consists'of a'pair of spaced, vertically disposed,combined supporting and reinforcing members 30, 31 and a pair ofoppositely disposed, inclined reinforcing and bracing members oruprights 32, 33 which extend from the upper ends of members 30, 31 tothe lower deck 3. The members 30, 31 are interposed between the channelirons 44 and theend rails 8, 9. The lower ends of the members 32, 33 aremounted on the channel irons 44. I

The members to 33v provide a truss arrangement. The members 32, 33 donot abut against the endrails 8, 9 but abut against the uprights 30, 31.The members 30, 31 which are in the form of uprights are disposedbetween the vertical median of the truck body and the sides tn'ereof'andthe members 32, 33 extend to a point in close proximity to the cornerrails 18. The braced end closures for the truck body welded to thelatter.

That I claim is:

1. A truck body comprising'an upper, intermediate and a lower deck, eachof said decks including an endrail of L-shaped cross section, an angleiron secured to the lower face of the horizontal portion of the end railof the upper deck and depending therefrom, a closure plate, said plateat its upper end abutting the horizontal portion of said angle iron,said plate further opposing the outer face of the end rail of theinteriediate deck and extending into and sup-.

are suitably means for connecting. said plate tosaid angle iron, meansfor securlngfsaid plate against the end rail of thelower deck, and trussreinforcement between said end rails of the intermediate and lower decksand abutting against; the inner face of that portion of said platearranged between said intermediate and lower decks. v

3. A truck body comprising an upper, intermediate and a'lower deck, eachof said decks including a'nfend raiil ofL-shaped cross section, anangleiron secured'to the lower face of the horizontal portion of the endrail of the upper deck and depending therefrom, a closure plate, saidplate at its upper-end abutting the horizontal portion of said"anglefiron, said plate further opposing the outer face of the endrail'of the intermediate deck and-extending into and supported fromtheend rail of the lower ideck, means for connecting said plate to saidangle iron, and means for securing said plate against the end rail ofthelower deck, said :plate positioned inwardly with respect to theverticaljface'of the" said end rails of the upper-landlower decks;

4. A truck body comprising, an upper, an intermediate and a lower deck,each of said decks. including anfl jend rail of L-shaped cross section,a closure plate having its top edge positioned in close proximity to thebottom'of the upperdeck, a portion thereof opposing the outer face ofsaid end rail of the intermediate deck aindits lower portion extendinginto and supported from an end rail of'the lower deck, means forconnecting said plate to the upper deck,*means for securing said plateto 'thefendrail of the lower deck, spaced vertical braces between theend-rail of the'intermediate deck and the means for securing the platetothe end railof the lower deck, andf'inc'lined braces abutting saidvertical "braces and further abutti'ngthe means for securing the plateto the end rail or" lower, deck, said vertical and inclined bracesabutting against the inner faceofsaid plate between said intermediateand lower decks.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto. c r

' S lllIEONE. TRAVIS, JR.

